Apparatus for conditioning containers and the like



INVENTOR. Z6120 UZeTeZZLr 4 Sheets-Sheet l Z. U. LE TELLIER APPARATUSFOR CONDITIONING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 Aug. 1,1950 z. u. LE TELLIER 2,517,394

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Feb. 19, 1945 w T Z 7 a 1 I Z W M w n I k .1 H 1 V g 1950 z. u. LETELLIER 2,517,394

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 4 mrmu 1: I A V 5 INVEN TOR. 6 1

Z6720 U [a Taliban Patented Aug. 1, 1950 APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONINGCONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Zeno U. Le Tellier, Milwaukee, Wls.,'assignor toPate Oil Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationFebruary 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,572

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to apparatus for conditioning containersand more particularly containers in the nature of barrels or the Amongthe objects of the present invention is to provide a novel device forconditioning containers, such as barrels or the like, expeditiously,economically and effectively.

For some time in the past it has been the practice, particularly in thepetroleum field, to make use of barrels for holding oil and the like forone shipment of such goods and to then junk or destroy the same.However, due to present economic conditions, barrels cannot be easilysecured and it has become the general practice in the trade torecondition these barrels after use so as to be re-usable again ,andagain for shipment of the particular products desired. Because of thenature of the products involved, it has been exceedingly dimcult tocondition the barrels for such successive uses and to provide containerswhich are uncontaminated with the material previously shipped thereinand resort has been made to extensive hand operations which, underpresent circumstances, is exceedingly undesirable and unsatisfactory, aswell as making the cost of such reconditioning excessive.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide anovel container conditioning apparatus which can be operated byrelatively unskilled labor at relatively low cost for effectively andefliciently treating such barrels or containers to make them suitablefor re-use after each shipment. In this aspect of the invention, barrelequipment may be re-used time and again, thus greatly decreasing thecost of shipment of such goods as are particularly found I in thepetroleum field.

Another object within the purview .of the present invention is toprovide a novel container conditioning apparatus which by simplemanipulation is adapted to cyclically treat successive barrelsintroduced therein through a complete conditioning operation involving,for example, such steps as applying a caustic material to the interiorand exterior surfaces of such containers, draining such caustic materialfrom the containers, rinsing the same with wash water, and then causingthe containers to be dried by the application of air, or the like,thereto.

In the more particular aspects oi the invention, one object thereof isto provide a conveyor system for the said containers so constructed andarranged as to facilitate the operations above referred to and whichprocedures involve the supplying of such fluids as are desired for theconditioning operations to the containers by gravity flow, both to theexterior and interior surfaces or the containers. In this connection,the invention further contemplates the application of heated air to thefluid flow into the interior of the containers so as to effectivelydisperse the same over the entire interior of such containers to assureproper conditioning thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelarrangement for raising the temperature of the conditioning fluids,involving the use of heater tubes adapted to discharge spent gases ofcombustion into a flue associated with a distributor head for the airsuch that the temperature of the air is elevated the desired amount.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelhousing structure for the containers undergoing treatment, comprising amovable buoyant support for such containers adapted, when in normalinitial position or in the absence of fluid within the housing, todispose the containers in a position inclined toward the entrance to thehousing so as to facilitate introduction of the containers therein andto provide for effective draining of the containers, yet which isadapted under the buoyant action oi fluid when in the housing to movesuch containers into substantially an upright position wherebyconditioning fluid efiectively treats the exterior surface of suchcontainers.

The invention further comprehends the idea of incorporating vibratingmeans for the containers within the housing structure so as to assuredislodgement of material adhering thereto during the conditioningprocess.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View ofconditioning apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the device disclosed in Figurel of the drawings;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken in the planerepresented by line 3-3 of Figure 1 of the drawings;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken in the planerepresented by line 4-4 of Figure 3 of the drawings; and p Figure Sis aview in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 5-5 ofFigure 4 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings,

an embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention is shown ascomprising a circular type conveyor 2 formed with a plurality of housingstructures 4, each of which is provided with a caster 6 operating overthe circular track 8, whereby each of the housing structures may beprogressively moved through a conditioning cycle of operation forcontainers which may be disposed within such housing structures.

The housing structure are interconnected by members I0, apertured as atI2, whereby the conveyor can be rotated as above explained by theintroduction of a tool into the opening l2 by the operator.Interconnecting the housing structures at their tops is a fluid receiverll of annular construction, partitioned as at l6 on each side of thehousing structures for a purpose which will be understood more clearlyas the description proceeds.

According to the embodiment herein disclosed, the arrangement of themechanisms is such as to particularly adapt the same for use inconditioning barrels 18, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, which areformed with bung-openings, such as 20, disposed in one of the end wallsof the barrel and adjacent the chime 22. This type of barrel inherentlypossesses a structure which is difllcult to effectively condition andaccordingly the present apparatus has incorporated therein certainfeatures of construction which facilitate the handling and conditioningof this type of barrel, although it is to be understood that the samemay be used for conditioning containers generally.

While reference has been made to the housing structures by the referencenumeral 4, it is to be noted that in accordance with Figure 1 thepresent device has eight of such housings all of the same constructionand which for convenience in the further description of the proceduresinvolved will be referred to as being disposed in the various positionsof the conditioning cycle A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.

As shown in Figure 1, the housing structure A is disposed opposite thefilling station at which point one of the barrels may be introducedtherein by an operator standing in front of the machine. By introductionof a tool into the opening I2, the conveyor 2 may be rotated bysuccessive steps to position successive housing structures in positionat the filling station. Furthermore, in accordance with the proceduresherein described in connection with the conditioning of the barrels l8,housing structures B and C are positioned to have a caustic solutiondirected onto the interior and exterior surfaces of the barrels disposedtherein. The housing structure D is representative of the position whicheach successive housing structure takes for the draining of the causticsolution from the housing after the barrels have been treated thereby.Housing structure E is representative of the position which the housingstructures assume during the introduction of a rinsing solution, such aswater, after which such water is allowed to drain from the housings whenin the position represented by the housing structure F. Housingstructures G and H are representative of the positions which eachsuccessive housing structure takes during the cycle of operation whenwarm air alone is introduced into the housing structures for drying thebarrels.

Since each of the housing structures 4 is of similar construction, asmore particularly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, reference will :be

- right position,

made to one only as to its detailed construction for the purposes ofthis illustration. The housing structure 4 is of general elongatedformation comprising side walls 24 and 26 interconnected by the circularend wall 28 and defining a chamber 30 of the proper size to receive thebarrel II to be conditioned. The front of the housing structure isprovided with a slide frame 32 adapted to receive a closure member 34which is raised and lowered through the handles 86 whereby, the barrelI8 may be introduced into and removed from the chamber 36.

The receiver I4 is connected to the upper inner margins of the housingstructures and is formed with oppositely disposed baffles 26 fordirecting fluid through a discharge pipe 42 into the upper region of thechamber 36. The chamber 30 immediately below the discharge pipe 42 ispartitioned by the baille 44, apertured as at 46, to permit the fluid toflow by gravity onto the upper end surface of the barrel and about itsside wall surfaces. In order to properly control the dispersion of thefluid, baflle member 46 defines the marginal edge of the opening 46adjacent the discharge 42. In order to control the upward dispersion ofthe fluid introduced into chamber 30, baflle plate 56 is provided toprovide a tortuous passage of the air through the opening 46 to theatmosphere through the opening 54 in the top or end wall of the housing.Depending flange or baflle 52 is also provided at one side of opening54.

The receiver I4 is further provided with a discharge conduit 56extending downwardly on the inside of the housing structure and whichhas the horizontal extension 58 terminating in the vertical fitting 60disposed within an outer fitting 62 attached to the air distributingconduit 64, one end of which leads into the housing structure from therotatable distributor head 66 of the air supply system.

The fitting 62 extends upwardly beyond a support 68 for the barrel l8and when the barrel II is introduced into the housing structure. thebung-opening 20 is inserted over fitting 62 so that conditioning fluidis introduced into the barrel from receiver 14 by gravity flow to thefitting 66, at which time the same is acted upon by air under pressureflowing through fitting 62 to disperse the same for effectively coveringthe entire interior surface of the barrel being treated.

The support 68 is characterized as including a pivotal support, as at10, in the side walls 24 and 26 of the housing structure and the floatmembers 12 and 14 which, under the action of fluid in the conditioningoperation, cause the support to be moved from its dotted line positionto that shown in full line position in Figure 3 of the drawings.Accordingly, it will be apparent that at the filling station A thesupport is disposed in such a position as to facilitate introduction ofthe barrel l8 into the housing structure. When the barrels are treatedat stations B, C and E, the support is moved about its pivot point 10 tomove the barrel into a substantially upthus facilitating the dispersionof fluid to all parts of the exterior surface. At the remaining stationsduring the cycle of operation, the tilting of the support as shown inFigure 3 of the drawings provides a convenient way of completelydraining the conditioning fluid from the barrels through thebung-opening 20.

In order to facilitate the proper treatment of the end of the barreladjacent the support 66, the

distributor conduit 58 is provided with a plurality of jets I8 adaptedto project conditioning fluid to the end wall of the barrel undergoingtreatment.

The lower end of each of the housing structures is provided with achamber 'Il adapted to collect the conditioning fluid Ior raising thefloat members I2 and 14, the conditioning fluid being discharged throughthe discharge I8 into the annular shaped collector 88 which returns theconditioning fluid to the tanks or reservoirs holding the same, asthrough the discharge 82 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

As previously described, the conditioning fluids used in accordance withthe present disclosure consist of caustic solution and rinsing waterand, accordingly, the reservoirs or tanks for such material are shown at84 and 85, respectively, both of which are of substantially the sameconstruction and are disposed in substantially opposed relation belowthe track or support 8 for movement of the conveyor. Each of the tanksis provided with a plurality of baflles, such as 88,

adapted to provide a circuitous path for the fluid being used. Disposedwithin the tanks are a plurality of heater tubes 90 at the end of eachset of which is provided a burner 92 for raising the temperature of theconditioning fluid. Each of these heater tubes extends through the endwalls 54 of the tanks and is adapted to discharge the products ofcombustion into a central flue 96 defined at its top by the cylindricalwall 98 for discharging such products of combustion directly beneath thedistributor head 66 of the air supply system. Distributor head 66 isprovided with depending structure, generally represented as I00,embracing the cylindrical wall 98 of the flue and which is furtherprovided with a plurality of lateral openings I82 adapted to permit theescape of these spent gases upwardly through the central portion of thedevice.

In circulating the caustic solution through the system, use is made of acentrifugal pump I84 operated by the motor I85, the pump having anintake I86 into the tank 84 and a discharge conduit I 08 extending upand over the conveyor and being provided with discharge nozzles I I8 andI I2 disposed to simultaneously introduce caustic solution into thespace between adjacent partitions IE of the receiver I4 when the housingstructures are moved into positions B and C.

In order to prevent loss of caustic solution and its dispersion ontoparts of the equipment which might be damaged, a plate 4 is secured tothe discharge nozzles 8- and H2 over that portion of the receiver intowhich caustic solution is being discharged.

The rinse water is similarly introduced into the receiver I4 when thebarrels are moved into the position E through the medium of acentrifugal pump H6 operated by the motor ill, the pump having an intake1 I8 into the tank 86 and having a discharge conduit I28 extending upand over the conveyor and discharging into the receiver l4 through thedischarge fitting I22.

The air supply is constituted by a blower I24 operated through themedium of a motor I25 and which blower I24 delivers air through theconduit I28 extending up and over the conveyor and which is connected toa centrally disposed conduit I30 connected to the distributor head 56through the slip joint I32 whereby the distributor head 68 can rotate inaccordance with the movement of the conveyor.

In order to assure complete removal of conditioning fluid from the upperend of the barrels II, a suction device is provided for each of thehousing structures consisting of a flexible tubing I34 having a hookedconduit I36 adapted to fit over the chime of the barrel to remove anyresidual conditioning fluid disposed therein. This flexible tubing I34is connected with a fitting I38 extending through the wall 24 of thehousing structure which is connected to conduit I40 leading to and beingconnected with a conduit I42 which has its inner end terminating withina conduit I44 constituting a supplemental. or auxiliary discharge forconditioning fluid from the next adjacent housing structure wherebydischarge of fluid therefrom creates a vacuum through the vacuum systemabove recited for drawing water from the chime end of the barrel.

During the operation of the conditioning apparatus as above described,it is to be noted that the circulatory systems for the caustic solutionand rinsing water are continuously in operation to provide the necessaryconditioning fluid for the procem involved, which said conditioningfluids in both instances are supplied to the barrels by gravity flow.The air system is likewise continuously operated and is efiectivethrough the fittings 62 in dispersing the conditioning fluids at thestations B, C and E and in facilitating the draining and drying of thebarrels when in the remaining positions as shown in the drawings.

In order to assure the dislodgement of material adhering to the barrelsduring the conditioning operation, a. cam I46 is provided on the shaft18 in association with each of the supports 68 and which cam through themedium of a motor I48 secured by bracket I58 to the exterior of thehousing is adapted to rotate and intermittently engage the lower-mostend of the barrel for the purposes described.

The container conditioning device above described is characterized bythe simplicity of its construction, ease of manipulation, andparticularly by the fact that conditioning of the containers iseifectually secured without the incorporation of high pressure fluidmechanisms which present dilficult maintenance problems with attendanthigh cost of operation.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of parts, details and features withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing device, the combination of a conveyor having meansproviding a movable buoyant support for containers having an openinginto the interior thereof and providing for a normal initial inclineddisposition of said containers, means for supplying fluid forconditioning said containers, a fluid receiver disposed above saidconveyor means for delivering said conditioning fluid from said meansfor supplying fiuid to said receiver means for delivering saidconditioning fluid by gravity flow from said receiver to the exteriorand interior of said containers, said last named delivery meansincluding means projecting into said containers through the openingstherein, means for delivering air under pressure adapted to act uponsaid fluid delivered to the interior of said containers for dispersingthe same over the interior surfaces of said containers, and meansproviding for the return of said conditioning fluid to said supply meansafter a conditioning operation, said last-named means being soconstructed and arranged as to provide for the movement of said buoyantsupport under the action of said conditioning fluid to move saidcontainers into a substantially upright position during a conditioningoperation.

2. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with said conveyor,means for delivering conditioning fluid to said receiver for supplyingthe same to said containers, means for delivering said conditioningfluid by gravity flow from the receiver to the exterior and interior ofsaid containers, said last mentioned means including means projectinginto said containers through said openings, and means for deliveringfluid under pressure adapted to act on said fluid discharged into saidcontainers for dispersing the same over the interior surfaces thereof.

3. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with said conveyor,means for supplying conditioning fluid. means for heating saidconditioning fluid including one or more heating tubes adapted toexhaust spent gases into a flue disposed within the confines of saidconveyor, means for delivering said heated conditioning fluid to saidreceiver for supplying the same to said containers, means for deliveringsaid conditioning fluid by gravity flow from the receiver to theexterior and interior of said containers, said last mentioned meansincluding means projecting through said openings into said containers,and means for delivering fluid under pressure adapted to act on saidfluid discharged into said containers for dispersing the same over theinterior surfaces thereof, said last-named means having a headerdisposed in association with said flue whereby the temperature of saidair is elevated.

4. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, said conveyor being adapted to be moved through successivestages of a conditioning cycle for said containers including thewashing, draining, rinsing and drying of said containers, means forintroducing a continuous jet of air into said containers through theopenings thereof, a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with saidconveyor, means for delivering conditioning fluid to said receiver forsupplyin the same to said containers, and means for delivering saidconditioning fluid by gravity flow from the receiver at different stagesin the cycle of operation of said device to the exterior and interiorsurfaces of said containers, said lastnamed means having means fordelivering said conditioning fluid into the air stream from said jets ofair whereby said fluid is dispersed over the interior surfaces of saidcontainers when introduced therein.

5. In a ashing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures each adaped to receive a container having an opening into the interior thereof,said conveyor being adapted to be moved through successive stares of aconditioning cycle for said containers including the washing, draining,rinsing and drying of said containers, means for introducing acontinuous jet of air into said containers through the openings thereof,a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with said conveyor,reservoirs for conditioning fluids for said cycle, means for heatingsaid conditioning fluids and said air, means for continuously deliveringsaid conditioning fluids to said receiver from said reservoirs forsupplying the same to said containers, means for delivering saidconditioning fluids by gravity flow from the receiver at differentstages in the cycle of operation of said device to the exterior andinterior surfaces of said containers, said lastnamed means having meansfor delivering said conditioning fluids into the air stream from saidjets of air whereby said fluids are dispersed over the interior surfacesof said containers when introduced therein, and means for returning saidconditioning fluid from said housing structures to said reservoirs.

6. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, said conveyor being adapted to be moved through successivestages of a conditioning cycle for said containers including thewashing, draining, rinsing and drying of said containers, means forintroducing a continuous jet of air into said containers through theopenings thereof comprising a distributor head and conduits therefrom toeach of said housingstructures, a fluid receiver disposed above andmovable with said conveyor, reservoirs for conditioning fluids for saidcycle, means for heating said conditioning fluids and said air includingheater tubes disposed within said conditioning fluids having a dischargefor spent gases in a flue disposed in association with said distributorhead for said air, means for continuously delivering said conditioningfluids from said reservoir to said receiver for supplying the same tosaid containers, means for delivering said conditioning fluids bygravity flow from the receiver at different stages in the cycle ofoperation of said device to the exterior and interior surfaces of saidcontainers, said last-named means having means for delivering saidconditioning fluids into the air stream from said jets of air wherebysaid fluids are dispersed over the interior surfaces of said containerswhen introduced therein, and means for returning said conditioningfluids from said housing structures to said reservoirs.

7. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, a movable buoyant support in each of said housing structuresproviding for a normal initial inclined disposition of said containers,said conveyor being adapted to be moved through successive stages of aconditioning cycle for said containers including the washing, draining,rinsing and drying of said containers, means for introducing acontinuous jet of air into said containers through the openings thereof,a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with said conveyor,reservoirs for conditioning fluids for said cycle, means for heatingsaid conditioning fluids and said air, means for continuously deliveringsaid conditioning fluids from said reservoirs to said receiver forsupplying the same to said containers, means for de- L livering saidconditioning fluids by gravity flow from the receiver at differentstages in the cycle of operation of said device to the exterior andinterior surfaces of said containers, said lastnamed means having meansfor delivering said conditioning fluids into the air stream from saidjets of air whereby said fluids are dispersed over the interior suriacesof said containers when introduced therein, and means for returning saidconditioning fluids from said housing structures to said reservoirs,each of said housing struc-- tures having a chamber disposed below saidcontainers forming a part of said fluid return means serving as areservoir for said conditioning fluids to move said buoyant supports todispose said containers; means for introducing a continuous jet of airinto said containers through the openings thereof comprising adistributor head and conduits therefrom to each of said housingstructures, a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with saidconveyor, reservoirs for conditioning fluids for said cycle, means forheating said conditioning fluids and said air including heater tubesdisposed within said conditioning fluids having a discharge for spentgases in a flue disposed in association with said distributor head forsaid air, means for continuously delivering said conditioning fluidsfrom said reservoirs to said receiver for supplying the same to saidcontainers, means for delivering said conditiom'ng fluids by gravityflow from the receiver at different stages in the cycle of operation ofsaid device to the exterior and interior surfaces of said containers,said last-named means having means for delivering said conditioningfluids into the air stream from said jets of air whereby said fluids aredispersed over the interior surfaces of said containers when introducedtherein, and means for returning said conditioning fluids from saidhousing structures to said reservoirs, each of said housing structureshaving a chamber disposed below said containers forming a part of saidfluid return means serving as a reservoir for said conditioning fluidsto move said buoyantsupports to dispose said containers in substantiallyupright position during a fluid conditioning operation.

9. In a washing device, the combination of a circular movable conveyorhaving a plurality of peripherally disposed housing structures eachadapted to receive a container having an opening into the interiorthereof, a movable buoyant support in each of said housing structuresproviding for a normal initial inclined disposition of said containers,said conveyor being adapted to be moved through successive stages of aconditioning cycle for said containers including the washing, draining,rinsing and drying of said containers, means for introducing acontinuous jet of air into said containers through the openings thereof,a fluid receiver disposed above and movable with said conveyor,reservoirs for conl0 ditioning fluids for said cycle, means for heatingsaid conditioning fluids and said air, means for continuously deliveringfsaid conditioning fluids from said reservoirs to said receiver forsupplying the same to said containers, means for delivering saidconditioning fluids by gravity flow from the receiver at differentstages in the cycle of operation of said device to the exterior andinterior surfaces of said containers, said lastnamed means having meansfor delivering said conditioning fluids into the air stream from saidjets of air whereby said fluids are dispersed over the interior surfacesof said containers when introduced therein, means for returning saidconditioning fluids from said-housing structures to said reservoirs,'each of said housing structures having a chamber disposed below saidcontainers forming a part of said fluid return means serving as areservoir for said conditioning fluids to move said buoyant supports todispose said containers in substantially upright position during a fluidconditioning operation, and means for vibrating said containers.

10. In a washing device, the combination of a circular conveyor having aplurality of peripherally disposed housing structures each adapted toreceive a container having an opening into the interior thereof, meansfor supplying conditioning fluids; a'partitioned receiver disposed aboveand movable with said housin structures and adapted to receive saidconditioning fluids from said means, said receiver having dischargemeans into the top of said housing structures and additional dischargemeans disposed within said housing structures and adapted to be receivedby said containers through said openings, fluid collecting meansdisposed beneath said housing structures adapted to receive saidconditioning fluids therefrom and having discharge means into saidconditioning fluid supply means.

11. In a washing device, the combination of a circular conveyor having aplurality of peripherally disposed housing structures each adapted toreceive a container having an opening into the interior thereof, meansfor supplying conditioning fluids, a partitioned annular shaped receiverdisposed above and movable with said housing structures and adapted toreceive said conditioning fluids from said means, said receiverhavingdischarge means into the top of said housing structure andadditional discharge means disposed within said housing structure andadapted to be received by said containers through said openings, apartitioned annular shaped fluid collecting means disposed beneath saidhousing structures adapted to receive said conditioning fluids therefromand having discharge means into said sources of conditioning fluids.

12. In a washing device, the combination of a housing structure havingan opening for introducing a container into the same and removing saidcontainer therefrom, and a support for said container pivotally mountedwithin said housing structure and normally supporting said container ina position inclined toward said opening, said support having buoyantmeans operable through the action of fluid within said housing structureto move said support to dispose said container in a substantiallyupright position. 1

13. In a washing device, the combination of. a housing structure havingan opening for introducing a barrel into the same and removing saidbarrel therefrom, said barrel being adapted to be positioned within saidhousing structure with its bung-opening lowermost, a support for said 11barrel pivotally mounted within said housing structure and normallysupporting said barrel in a position inclined toward said opening, saidsupport having buoyant means operable through the action of fluid withinsaid housing structure to move said support to dispose said barrel in asubstantially upright position, and a fluid discharge means extendingupwardly above said support and projecting into said barrel through saidbung-opening.

' ZENO U. LE TELHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me ofthis patent:

Number Number 1 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Nader Dec, 13, 1910Haggerty et a1. July 20, 1915 Collamer Apr. 11, 1922 Hippenmeyer Mar.21, 1933 McCiatchie Sept. 15, 1938 Kimball Apr. 26, 1938 Alexander May31, 1938 W011 June 28. 1938 Alexander June 3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Great Britain Aug. 20, 1929

